FACT SHEET

Farm Safety Association

Agriculture • Agribusiness • Horticulture • Landscaping

HANDLING FARM ANIMALS SAFELY

Regardless of the types of animals you raise on your
farm, complacency and the feeling of being safe in
their presence may leave you off guard. Injuries usually
occur when the victim does not expect it and all
animals should be considered unpredictable. A lack of
knowledge of animal behaviour could put a handler
into dangerous situations. Thousands of animal
related injuries occur each year, some even resulting in
death. Don’t overlook the importance of safety around
livestock, particularly with inexperienced employees
and family members.
Some of the most common injuries include being
stepped on by large animals, being knocked down ,
kicked, thrown while riding, or pinned between the
animal and a hard surface. Many injuries also occur
each year from bites.
FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT
What can you do to prevent animal injuries? Proper
equipment and handling facilities for your type of
operation are a must. Larger animals, in particular need
equipment that is able to restrain them for general
maintenance or health care.
Pens should be equipped with a man-gate or other
means egress if necessary. Crowding animals into
sorting or working chutes should be done with crowd
gates, not with drivers.
Catwalks along chutes and alleys eliminate the need
for working in the alley. If the catwalk is more than 18”
or so off the ground, it should be protected by a
guardrail to prevent falls.
Walking or working surfaces should be free of tripping
and slipping hazards for both animals and workers.
Eliminate protrusions and sharp corners. Lighting in
handling and housing facilities should be even and
diffused. Bright spots mixed with shadows in alleys
and crowding pens will often cause cattle to balk.
Guard the moving parts of a hydraulically operated
squeeze chute and tilt table. Use solid panels for
moving swine.
Loading ramps and handling chutes ideally should
have solid side- walls to prevent animals from seeing
outside distractions with their wide-angle vision.
Blocking vision will also help stop escape attempts.
Sight reduction also lowers stress levels, thus having a
calming effect on the animal.
Pigs, sheep, and cattle have a tendency to move from
a dimly lit area to a more brightly-lit area, provided the
light does not hit them directly in the eyes. A spotlight
directed on the ramp will often help keep the animals
moving.
Loud, abrupt noises, such as the sound of banging
metal can cause distress in livestock. You may wish to
install rubber bumpers on gates and squeeze chutes to
reduce noises.
The sense of smell is extremely important to animals,
especially between females and newborns. Often
animals react to odors we do not detect. For example,
sheep may be lured by the smell of freshly mown hay
or a bull may become aggressive when he detects a
cow in heat.
Handling facilities should be painted in one color only,
since all species of livestock are likely to balk at a
sudden change in color or texture.
All livestock tend to refuse to walk over a drain, grate,
hose, puddle, shadow, or any change in flooring
texture or surface. All these factors need to be
considered when evaluating or planning livestock
handling facilities. To reduce the risk of falls, provide
slip-resistant footing for workers and livestock with
roughened concrete ramp and floor surfaces.

Unit 22, 340 Woodlawn Road West, Guelph, Ontario (519) 823-5600 www.farmsafety.ca
UNDERSTAND ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR.
• Animals experience hunger, thirst, fear, sickness,
injury and strong maternal instincts. They also
develop individual behavior patterns such as kicking
or biting. The handler should be aware of these
behaviors and take necessary safety precautions,
include using personal protective equipment.
• Beef, swine and dairy cattle are generally colorblind
and have poor depth perception. This results in an
extreme sensitivity to contrasts, which may cause
an animal to balk at shadows or rapid changes from
light to dark. Sheep are also considered colorblind,
but do have good depth perception. Instead, Sheep
have difficulty picking out small details, such as the
open space created by a partially opened gate.
• Horses and Mules commonly kick toward their
hindquarters, while cow’s kick forward and out to shoes or boots, shin guards and a hard hat. It is also
the side Cows also have a tendency to kick toward important to wear the proper footwear when around
a side with pain from inflammation or injuries. For livestock. Footwear that supplies the proper foot
example, if a dairy cow is suffering from mastitis in support and protection is essential. For instance,
one quarter, consider approaching her from the side one misplaced hoof of a 1500-pound cow can easily
of the non-affected udder. break the bones of the human foot encased in a pair
of running shoes.
• Livestock with young exhibit a maternal instinct.
They are usually more defensive and difficult to • Wear rubber gloves when working with sick and
handle. When possible, let the young stay as close injured animals as well as other protective clothing
to the adult as possible when handling. Most for protection. Practice personal hygiene by washing
animals have a strong territorial instinct and develop your hands and face after handling animals
a very distinctive, comfortable attachment to areas CONTROLLING DISEASES
such as pastures and buildings, water troughs, worn Handlers should also be concerned with zoonotic
paths and feed bunks. Forcible removal from these diseases, which are illnesses that can be transmitted
areas can cause animals to react unexpectedly. between humans and animals. Leptospirosis, rabies,
Considering these animal traits, it is easy to brucellosis, salmonellosis and ringworm are especially
understand why animals often hesitate when going important.
through unfamiliar gates, barn doors, and handling • To reduce exposure to disease, use basic hygiene
and loading chutes. Similar problems occur when and sanitation practices, which include prompt
animals are moved away from feed, separated from treating or disposal of infected animals, adequate
the herd or approached by an unfamiliar person. disposal of infected tissues, proper cleaning of
• Moving or flapping objects can also disrupt contaminated sites, and proper use of personal
handling. A cloth or coat swinging in the wind or protective equipment
turning fan blades can cause animals to balk.
Movement at the end of a chute can cause them to ANIMAL APPROACH
refuse to be herded. The proper approach to a large animal is critical to
• Yelling should be kept to a minimum when working working with them safely. Most large animals can see
with livestock to enable the animal to feel secure. at wide angles around them, but there is a blind spot
• Be cautious around animals that are blind or deaf on directly behind their hindquarters beyond which they
one side. They favor that side and can suddenly cannot see.
swing around to investigate disturbances. If • Any movement in this “blind spot” will make the
standing too close, a person could easily be animal uneasy and nervous.
knocked down and trampled.
• Animals respond to the way they are treated and
draw upon past experiences when reacting to a
situation. For example, animals that are chased,
slapped, kicked, hit or frightened when young will
naturally fear being approached. Figure 1

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

• Personal Protective Equipment appropriate to the
work situation should be worn. This could include
safety glasses, gloves, long trousers, steel-toed Figure 2
• The safest approach is to “announce” your
approach through a touch to their front or side. (See
figure 1)
• Most large animals will kick in an arch beginning
toward the front and moving toward the back. Avoid
this kicking region when approaching the animal
(See figure 2)
• A frightened cow or horse will plow right over you. It
is safer to use proper handling facilities made
specially for separating large animals. Most animals
will be more cooperative in moving through a chute
that has minimal distractions.
• When you are inside a handling facility or milking
lane, always leave yourself a way to get out if it
becomes necessary. Try to avoid entering a small
area enclosed with large animals unless it is
equipped with a mangate that you can get to easily.
Never prod animals if they have no place to go.
HOUSEKEEPING
• Keeping your work area clean and free of debris will
help provide a safe working environment. Check for
and eliminate any sharp corners or protrusions in
walkways. Check to ensure that all latches and
levers can’t fly open easily. Clean concrete ramps
and floors regularly to prevent slips and trips. Keep
pitchforks and other sharp tools stored properly out
of walkways
CATTLE
• Accidents with beef cattle tend to occur while the
victim is handling the livestock. Beef cattle are
known for an even disposition, but can startled, and
inflict injury to anyone in their way. Groups of
animals are easy to “spook.” Bovines can see nearly
360 degrees without moving their heads. Therefore,
a quick movement behind is just as apt to “set them
off” as a frontal one.
• Dairy cows may look contented in the pasture, but
they are generally more nervous than other animals.
Creatures of habit, they are easily startled, especially
by strange noises and persons.
• Always announce your presence when approaching
a cow. Gently touch the animal rather than let the
first contact be a bump or shove .
• When moving cows into a constraining space such
as a milking parlor stall or squeeze chute, give them
time to adjust before starting the work at hand.
• If a cow tends to kick, consider using a hobble.
Don’t permit workers to talk loudly, clatter and bang
equipment around or handle cows roughly. Gentle
cows can become dangerous when defending
calves and this fact should be impressed to children,
visitors and new workers.
• Special facilities should be provided so that a bull
can be fed, watered, exercised and used for
breeding without the handler coming into direct
contact with him.
• Once you have moved dairy cattle into the milking
stalls, give them a moment to adapt to the new
environment before beginning your operation.
Although cattle are not apt to attack you, they can
overwhelm you with their size and weight. Leave
yourself an “out” when trying to corner or work with
cattle.
• Keep small children and strangers out. Beware of
the area in front of the rear leg when working with
cattle. They tend to kick forward, then back. Pulling
the kicking leg forward can be used as a means of
preventing a kick while working in the udder or flank
area range.
SWINE
• Though hogs are not normally aggressive animals,
they can become dangerous animals if threatened,
especially sows protecting her young.
• The best method by which to move hogs is by
guiding them with gates and/or panels.
• Veterinary work and treatment of pigs should be
done only when they are separated from the sow, or
when she is restrained in the crate or a separate pen.
• Your best safety aid for the jobs is a lightweight
hurdle or solid panel with a handle attached. The
panel should be slightly narrower than the alleys
through which the animals are being driven.
• As with most animals, make yourself known quietly
and gently to avoid startling your hogs. A knock on
 the door or rattling the door handle will usually
suffice.
• Don’t let small children reach through pens or fences
to pet or feed hogs. Keep unauthorized people out
of pens or away from the facility altogether. Bio
security can be an important issue.
BASIC HORSE BEHAVIOR
• Horses detect danger through their vision, sense of
smell and keen sense of hearing. They have wide-
angle vision, but they also have blind spots directly
behind and in front of themselves
For example, when it lifts its head and pricks its ears,
it is focusing on something far away. The horse lowers
its head when focusing on low, close objects. Keep
these blind spots in mind and know where your
horse’s attention is focused so you do not scare it.
• Your horse’s ears will give you clues; they will point
in the direction in which its attention is focused. Ears
that are “laid back,” or flattened backward, warn you
that the horse is getting ready to kick or bite.
• Always work with calm but deliberate movements
around horses. Nervous handlers can make horses
nervous, creating unsafe situations.
APPROACHING THE HORSE
• When catching a horse, approach from its left
shoulder. Move slowly but confidently, speaking to
the horse as you approach. Read the horse’s
intention by watching its body language.
• Be careful when approaching a horse that is
preoccupied, such as when its head is in a hay
manger.
• When approaching a horse in a stall, speak to the
horse to get its attention and wait until it turns and
faces you before entering and make sure the horse
moves over before you walk in beside it.
• Speak to your horse and keep your hands on it when
moving around it. Even if a horse is aware of your
presence, it can be startled by quick movements.
• When approaching from the rear, advance at an
angle speaking to the horse, making sure you have
its attention. Touch it gently as you pass by its
hindquarters.
LEADING THE HORSE
• Hold the lead line with your right hand, 8 to 10
inches away from the horse’s head, while holding
the end, or bight, of the line with your left hand.
Always use a lead line so you have this “safety zone”
and to prevent getting a hand caught in the halter.
• Teach your horse to walk beside you so that you are
walking at its left shoulder, with your right elbow
near the horse’s shoulder so you can anticipate its
actions.
Do not let the horse “walk” you. Do not allow it to get
behind you either, as it could jump into you if spooked.
• To lead a horse through a doorway, you should step
through first, then quickly step to the side out of the
horse’s way. Keep an eye on it, as some horses try
to rush through narrow spaces.
• Never wrap any piece of equipment attached to a
horse around your hand, even with small loops, as it
could wrap around the hand and cause serious
injury.
• After you remove the halter, make the horse stand
quietly for several seconds before letting it go
completely. This will help prevent the horse from
developing a habit of bolting away and kicking at
you in the process.
• Some horses can become sour and begin nipping at
you if they anticipate discomfort during grooming.
Do not hurry the grooming procedure, especially
with a young or spooky horse. Stay near the horse
and keep a hand on it at all times so you can
anticipate its movements.
• Do not climb over or under the lead line of a tied
horse. The horse may pull back and cause you to
trip over the line, and you will have no quick escape
should the horse lunge forward, paw or try to bite.
Never walk under the belly of any horse.
SHEEP
• A common accident involving sheep is being butted
by a ram. Ewes will also protect their young and
should be handled carefully. A sheep can be
immobilized for safe handling by sitting it up on its
rump and the ground.

The information and recommendations contained in this publication

are believed to be reliable and representative of contemporary expert
opinion on the subject material. The Farm Safety Association Inc.
does not guarantee absolute accuracy or sufficiency of subject
material, nor can it accept responsibility for health and safety
recommendations that may have been omitted due to particular and
exceptional conditions and circumstances.
Copyright © 2002 Farm Safety Association Inc.
22-340 Woodlawn Road West, Guelph, Ontario (519) 823-5600.

Produced with the assistance of:

u Agriculture and
Agri-Food Canada
Agriculture et
Agroalimentaire Canada

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